20. Jim Cullum Jazz Band, “A Woman Is a Sometime Thing” (George Gershwin)

For use with Lesson #22.

 

Listening Exercise

Personnel: Jim Cullum cornet, Allan Vache clarinet, Randy Reinhart trombone, John Sheridan piano, Howard Elkins banjo, Jim Hunter bass, Ed Torres drums. Recorded in 1987.

Issued on Columbia MK 42517.

This track presents another fine example of traditional jazz as applied to unexpected material. This complex and exhilarating arrangement by John Sheridan is from an entire “Porgy and Bess” suite developed by this San Antonio-based band. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has performed their adaptation of Gershwin’s classic jazz opera in such venues as the Galveston Grand Opera House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Sequence for this track

0:00 Trombone/clarinet intro with offbeats (4 bars)

0:07 First strain: cornet solo in straight mute (13 bars), with clarinet/trombone harmony, offbeats at bars 9-10

0:29 Second strain: ensemble (12 bars) (arranged harmony), with offbeats at bars 9-10, cymbal break at bar 12

0:49 First strain: ensemble, cornet now open (12 bars)

1:08 Second strain: ensemble (14 bars), with clarinet lead against suspended time (bars 12-13), and clarinet break (bar 14)

1:31 First strain: clarinet solo

1:50 Second strain: clarinet solo

2:10 First strain: cornet solo

2:29 Second strain: cornet solo

2:48 First strain: trombone solo

3:07 Second strain: trombone solo

3:26 Second strain: ensemble (10 bars) (arranged harmony), with offbeats at bars 9-10

3:42 Repeating cornet phrase against offbeats (8 bars)

3:56 Cornet cadenza against ensemble fermata

Jim Cullum Jazz Band